Well, today is… my father’s birthday. From here, happy birthday, father, I know you are not famous but… today is also the birthday of some famous people and celebrities: Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980), English director of suspense classics like Psycho, Rear Window and The Birds; Fidel Castro… you know, Cuban… president or dictator… he came to power in the revolution of 1959; Bert Lahr (1895-1967), he played the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz; to Danny Bonaduce, famous actor who grew up to reality TV shows; Annie Oakley (1860-1926), who appeared in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show; George Shearing, who died in 2011, jazz pianist who explored Latin and swing musical styles; Alan Shearer, football player who has played for the England national team and the Premier League; Phil Taylor, BBC Sports Personality of the Year (2006 and 2010).

When an actor comes to me and wants to discuss his character, I say, ‘It’s in the script.’ If he says, ‘But what’s my motivation?, ‘ I say, ‘Your salary.’